Top-four hopefuls Villarreal will be aiming to bounce back from successive defeats when they resume their La Liga campaign against Getafe on Sunday afternoon.
The visitors are fifth in the La Liga table, now eight points behind fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao with a game in hand, while Getafe, who have been victorious in their last two league fixtures, are 11th.
Match preview
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Getafe opened March with a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Leganes, but the capital outfit then recorded two excellent results, beating Atletico Madrid 2-1 at home before posting a 2-1 success away to Osasuna.
Jose Bordalas's side are 11th in the La Liga table, boasting a record of nine wins, nine draws and 10 defeats to collect 36 points, and they are only four points behind seventh-placed Mallorca on the same number of matches (28).
The Deep Blue Ones finished 12th last term, so there is room for improvement this season, and the team are chasing their first top-half finish since 2019-20, when they ended the campaign in eighth.
Getafe have struggled for goals this season, only finding the back of the net on 25 occasions, which is the joint-second worst attacking record in the division, but they have only conceded 23 - the second-best defensive record behind Atletico Madrid.
Each of the last three La Liga meetings between these two teams have finished level, including a 1-1 draw earlier this season, while it was 0-0 when the pair locked horns for the corresponding match during the 2023-24 campaign.
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Villarreal's top-four hopes have taken a hit due to back-to-back defeats to Alaves and Real Madrid, which have seen them fall eight points behind fourth-placed Athletic in the battle for Champions League football.
The Yellow Submarine do have a game in hand over Athletic, though, and the pair will lock horns on April 6, so a win this weekend and a victory in that huge contest would place Marcelino's side in a strong position heading into the final straight.
Villarreal have been an excellent watch this season, scoring 49 times, which is the third-best attacking record in the division behind Barcelona and Real Madrid, but they have also conceded 38, which is high considering their spot in the table.
Marcelino's team have been excellent on their travels this season, boasting the third-best away record, picking up 24 points from 14 matches, but Getafe have only lost three times at home in the league this term and have conceded just nine goals.
Villarreal's last away win over Getafe was a 2-1 success in April 2022, while the Yellow Submarine are unbeaten against this weekend's opponents in Spain's top flight since January 2019.
Team News
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Getafe will welcome Yellu Santiago back into their squad this weekend, with the midfielder available again after serving a suspension in the 2-1 victory over Osasuna last time out.
However, Christantus Uche is now banned due to the red card that he was handed late on against Osasuna.
Borja Mayoral is likely to be introduced into the starting side on Sunday, with Juanmi potentially moving into the number 10 spot, while there will be another position in the XI for Ramon Terrats, who hit a brace in the team's last match.
As for Villarreal, Kiko Femenia remains a major doubt due to a back issue, while Gerard Moreno and Ilias Akhomach are unavailable for selection due to injury problems.
Yeremy Pino is expected to be introduced into the XI following the clash with Real Madrid, with Tajon Buchanan likely to be the player to drop down to the bench for the contest with Getafe.
Ayoze Perez has been an impressive performer for Villarreal this season, finding the back of the net on 11 occasions in La Liga, and there will be another start through the middle for the experienced attacker.
Getafe possible starting lineup:
Soria; Dakonam, Duarte, Alderete, Rico; Milla, Arambarri; Terrats, Juanmi, Coba; Mayoral
Villarreal possible starting lineup:
Conde; Foyth, Kambwala, Costa, S Cardona; Pino, Comesana, Gueye, Baena; Barry, Perez
We say: Getafe 1-1 Villarreal
Villarreal desperately need a win to boost their Champions League hopes, but Getafe are a tough side to overcome - the last two league meetings between the two sides have finished 1-1, and we are predicting the same scoreline on Sunday afternoon.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
